news from ekklesia

news from ekklesia

The leader of Scotlandís Roman Catholics is to launch a campaign to put the Christian religion back into Christmas.

Keith OíBrien plans to contact every council in Scotland and the Scottish Parliament.

At a National Mass in Edinburgh in November last year Cardinal OíBrien called for the ìre-Christianisationî of Scotland.

In his homily he asked every council and community in Scotland to consider including a nativity scene in their festive decorations.

And he called on people to ensure there was ìa real Christian commemoration of the Feast of Christmasî in their celebrations.

The Cardinal also condemned cards sent over the festive season that failed to make mention of Christmas ñ such as the official Scottish Parliament cards which bore the message ìSeasonís Greetingsî in a bid to avoid offending non-Christians.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Catholic Church said the suggestion of Christmas causing offence was ìabsurdî and that the Cardinal hoped to see a change in attitudes by December 2004.

He said: ìThose comments that were made were made at a time when it was too late for anything to be changed.

ìThis summer his intention would be to write to all Scotlandís councils and the Parliament and urge them in 2004 to re-focus and push the Christian aspect of Christmas further up the agenda.î

He dismissed the suggestion that Christian sentiment in cards would offend other religions and said the Cardinalís comments had already seen support from other faiths.

He added: ìThere has been support from Muslims who have said the idea of not having Christmas in Christmas cards is political correctness gone mad.

ìIt is slightly absurd to suggest it would cause offence,î he added.

Cardinal aims to put religion back into Christmas

-8/1/04

The leader of Scotland's Roman Catholics is to launch a campaign to put the Christian reli

Cardinal aims to put religion back into Christmas

-8/1/04

The leader of Scotlandís Roman Catholics is to launch a campaign to put the Christian religion back into Christmas.

Keith OíBrien plans to contact every council in Scotland and the Scottish Parliament.

At a National Mass in Edinburgh in November last year Cardinal OíBrien called for the ìre-Christianisationî of Scotland.

In his homily he asked every council and community in Scotland to consider including a nativity scene in their festive decorations.

And he called on people to ensure there was ìa real Christian commemoration of the Feast of Christmasî in their celebrations.

The Cardinal also condemned cards sent over the festive season that failed to make mention of Christmas ñ such as the official Scottish Parliament cards which bore the message ìSeasonís Greetingsî in a bid to avoid offending non-Christians.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Catholic Church said the suggestion of Christmas causing offence was ìabsurdî and that the Cardinal hoped to see a change in attitudes by December 2004.

He said: ìThose comments that were made were made at a time when it was too late for anything to be changed.

ìThis summer his intention would be to write to all Scotlandís councils and the Parliament and urge them in 2004 to re-focus and push the Christian aspect of Christmas further up the agenda.î

He dismissed the suggestion that Christian sentiment in cards would offend other religions and said the Cardinalís comments had already seen support from other faiths.

He added: ìThere has been support from Muslims who have said the idea of not having Christmas in Christmas cards is political correctness gone mad.

ìIt is slightly absurd to suggest it would cause offence,î he added.

Although the views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Ekklesia, the article may reflect Ekklesia's values. If you use Ekklesia's news briefings please consider making a donation to sponsor Ekklesia's work here[1].